BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17761, 21 April 1921, Page 8

BOY SCOUT MOVEMENT.

REORGANISATION SCHEME. DISCUSSION OF DETAILS. A public meeting of officers, ex-officers, and those interested in the Boy Scout movement was held in the Y.M.C.A. on Tuesday evening for the purpose of hearing the Dominion Chief Scout Commissioner, Captain D. Cossgrove, regarding the recent decisions of the executive for the furtherance of the Boy Scout movement in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland. Dr. J. A. Clinch presided, and there was a fair attendance.

The principal busiiiess was the consideration of a scheme of reorganisation put forward by the chief commissioner

i after consultation with the officers throughout the Dominion. The scheme provides for the local association to be practically in sole control, and it will be expected to settle all the troubles and difficulties which have hitherto been referred to the Dominion chief commissioner or the Dominion executive committee. On combined parades, troops will take post according to their seniority as Sea .Rovers, Sea Scouts, Land Rovers, Boy Scouts or Junior Scouts in that order. Within these divisions troops will take seniority of place in accordance with the table of seniority to be prepared by each local association, or provincial council or the Dominion executive, where the decision of higher authority is required. Mr. A. E. Waters, secretary of the Diocesan Brigade, stated some of the objections to the introduction of the new scheme. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., said that after careful consideration he had come to the conclusion that the new scheme made for unity. It gave self-government to each centre and allowed it. to make its own laws and to control the movement itself. The matter would be considered by the council next month, and if the annual meeting adopted the scheme no district, or body within the association could stand out. He therefore appealed to those who objected to state their case clearly to the chief commissioner and give him an opportunity to meet them.

It is understood that as a result of the meeting the district will reconsider the position and give their commissioner a definite reply before the annual meeting.